Fleetwood Farm Winery

January 13, 2024.  We decided to squeeze-in our first winery visit of 2024 in advance of a predicted Polar Vortex arriving in the Nation’s Capital early next week.  The heavy rains from earlier in the week gave way to a crisp, bright, breezy day that promised well for a return trip to Fleetwood Farm Winery.  Nicely located a few minutes from Virginia State Route 50, between South Riding and Aldie, Loudoun County, take care with the sharp turn and steep drive onto the property.

On a rise above the parking lot is the 1765 Federal-style manor house originally built by William Ellzey.  Also called “Peggy’s Green,” the house is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Fleetwood has three main properties: the manor house and tasting room, which we’ll get to in a moment, the Grand Terrace, and the Loft.  Most private events such as wedding receptions, are in the Loft, a barn-like structure next to the parking lot.  In past visits to Fleetwood, we have been in the Grand Terrace, a low-swung long building that has a nice wood-burning fireplace inside and a wrap-around deck outside.  Fleetwood opens the Grand Terrace in warmer months and when they expect a crowd, such as on Friday trivia nights. 

On this day in mid-January, only the main tasting room was open.  It adjoins the back of the manor house, and you get to it walking through an arch of field stones and down a flagstone path.  The tasting room was in bright sun on our visit, nice plush sofas and a fireplace for aesthetic show only.   

 

In warmer times, there is a tasting room in the Grand Terrace.  A broad treed lawn with Adirondack chair seating slopes gently to the edge of the vines. 

John “Skip” Edgemond and Jamie McClellan, a couple from Reston, opened Fleetwood in 2018.  Skip owns Greenworks Landscaping in Chantilly and manages the grounds.  Reportedly, Skip doesn’t like wine.  Thank goodness for Jamie!  According to Sue Darnell, the tasting room manager, Fleetwood has around 3 acres of Norton grapes under vine on the property.  They also have leased acreage elsewhere, mostly near Upperville.  I suspect this is Slater’s Mill Vineyards.  Fleetwood has no production facilities of its own, originally using Bull Run Winery, but no more.  Today, Fleetwood uses custom crush arrangements with Slaters Mill Vineyards and Chrysalis Vineyards at the Ag District (Middleburg).  I’m assured that the fruit is all Virginia fruit and mostly local.  Fleetwood also features two wines from Château Kalian near Bergerac, France.  This is the family property operated by Kilian Griaud, brother of Slater Mills’ winemaker, Katell Griaud. 

I couldn’t get good figures on the volume of production but heard between 500 and 1,000 cases.

Fleetwood is an adults-only, humans-only winery.  Leave your dog at home.  And leave your picnic at home.  Fleetwood does not allow outside food even if their food menu is somewhat limited.  (We recommend the Crab Dip.)  Even so, we had a wonderful afternoon talking with new acquaintances Tom and Sandra, Fleetwood members.  We were also joined by our friend, Susan K. 

The winery features flights of red wine, white wine, a combination flight, and a selection of Sangria and sparking wine.  I sampled the red wine tasting.  Others had glasses of white wine.  Here’s what we had and our impressions:

2020 Tempête Blanche.  This is a wine from Château Kalian, noted above, using classic white Bordeaux grapes Sauvignon Blanc (60%) and Semillon Blanc (30%) with 10% Muscadelle.  We have since learned that, while Muscadelle seldom contributes more than 5% to white Bordeaux wines, in the Monbazillac region, where Château Kalian is located, it is often used in greater proportions as in this offering, presumably to add some floral notes.  Tempête Balance does have grapefruit notes, tart and dry and a little pet-nat.  Sounds like a B rating. 

2020 Chardonnay.  Kim rated the Chardonnay a B-.  She found it a little weak and not a lot of taste to tell the truth.  It is a product of stainless steel aging.

2019 Vidal Blanc.  Kim found the Vidal Blanc with more flavor than the Chardonnay and rated it a B.  Unfortunately, Fleetwood was not pouring any Viognier during our visit.  That could have brought even more flavor and structure.

2019 Fleetwood Rosé.  Kim also found the Rosé better than the Chardonnay, if the Chardonnay was a sort of benchmark.  I rated it a B.  I found it sort of muddled in delivery, not particularly tangy because it is a Chambourcin that underplays the fruit.  But if you like Chambourcin, this may be your Rosé. 

2021 Springhouse Red.  This is Fleetwood’s estate-grown Norton wine, from the custom crush arrangement with Chrysalis.  Very floral nose, nearly tawney in color.  Light- bodied with a jammy sweetness.  I rate it a B.

2021 Toujours L’Été.  This is the red offering from Château Kalian.  It is a Right Bank Bourdeaux blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Bergerac area east.  Nicely balanced and age-worthy.  I rate it a B+.

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon.  Fleetwood’s Cabernet Sauvignon has a little residual sugar which contributed to a full mouth feel.  It was not, however, very complex or rich.  Smooth bordering on flaccid.  B-

2019 Merlot.  The Merlot was more approachable than the Cab Sauv.  A brambly nose, ruby color, medium-bodied.  Light plum fruit, some spice and clutchy.  I rate it a B.

2019 Cabernet Franc.  People who read this blog know that I am a fan of Cabernet Franc.  Fleetwood’s offering was pretty good:  Light palate, and balanced tannins.  Good fruit and mild pepper.  When it came time to choose a glass for sipping with friends, I chose the Cabernet Franc over the Toujours L’Été.  My score was a B+.

For its location in Northern Virginia near the Fairfax County line, Fleetwood is a civilized place where adults can enjoy a quiet glass of decent wine.  Worth the effort.